By Faith

“We will stand as children of the promise We will fix our eyes on Him our soul’s reward Till the race is finished and the work is done We’ll walk by faith and not by sight” – By Faith

Above is the powerful chorus from Keith and Kristyn Getty’s modern hymn “By Faith.” This song is rich in gospel truth and is an example of the encouragement we need as we navigate our day-to-day life. We’re a people who live by facts, data, plans, and agendas. We want to have complete control over all of life’s circumstances. And when circumstances interfere with our plans and agendas, the question is, how will we respond? Where will our confidence and assurance come from? Hopefully, it comes from faith in a good and trustworthy God who has time and again proven his complete sovereign control over everything.

Easier said than done, right? That’s exactly why music is such a help to us, particularly songs that are saturated with the truth of Scripture. Songs like “By Faith” help us remember biblical truths that can easily slip our minds.

“By Faith” reminds us that we stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the faithful men and women who came before us. We can look to Old Testament saints like Abraham and Moses who were by no means perfect, but they had shining moments of faith and trust in God’s promises to them. When the circumstances of their lives appeared hopeless and the way out looked impossible – Isaac on an altar to be sacrificed or Israel standing before the Red Sea – their endurance was forged in faith, not sight. Their faith encourages to also walk by faith in our mighty God rather than by our limited and often faulty perspective.

By faith we see the hand of God In the light of creation’s grand design In the lives of those who prove His faithfulness Who walk by faith and not by sight

By faith our fathers roamed the earth With the power of His promise in their hearts Of a holy city built by God’s own hand A place where peace and justice reign

“By Faith” also reminds us the everything is about Jesus. The prophets of old looked forward to the day when the perfect Messiah would redeem all that was marred by sin. They lived in light of that promise and served as the beacon of hope to the nation of Israel. Later, the New Testament saints experienced the fulfillment of God’s promise – the very Messiah lived among them. And they were commissioned by Jesus Christ himself and empowered by his Holy Spirit to spread the gospel to all the world. And we can be assured that gospel’s power will prevail, because it’s not rooted in our own strength, but in the risen Christ himself.

By faith the prophets saw a day When the longed-for Messiah would appear With the power to break the chains of sin and death And rise triumphant from the grave

By faith the church was called to go In the power of the Spirit to the lost To deliver captives and to preach good news In every corner of the earth

By faith this mountain shall be moved And the power of the gospel shall prevail For we know in Christ all things are possible For all who call upon His name

Where do we fit in this? We see from the saints of old and announce to those who will follow us that true hope is found in Jesus alone. We get to continue the path set before us to declare and demonstrate the life-giving power of the gospel. We do so despite our circumstances. We do so until the work is done, when Christ himself returns to fully redeem this broken place. And as we await that day, we will walk by faith and not by sight.